Manchester United's preparations for their crunch Premier League clash against Tottenham were rocked by an apparent false positive Covid-19 test.
David De Gea tested positive for coronavirus, initially ruling him out of the fixture. As a result Dean Henderson had been lined up to step in and make only his fourth appearance for United this season.
Henderson arrived at The Lowry hotel with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and a handful of coaches on Friday night, but was joined by no other United teammates.
It is understood this was because of the positive test.
However, on Saturday morning, sources told Mirror Football that De Gea's Covid-19 result was in fact a false positive. It is also understood the club are still trying to resolve the testing issue.
Henderson was recalled from The Lowry to United's Carrington training base where the rest of the squad would meet ahead of the 5.30pm fixture against Tottenham.
It is not ideal preparation with both teams fighting for a place in the Premier League top four.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to return.
United's No.7 was controversially missing in the 4-1 drubbing to rivals Manchester City, with reports soon surfacing he jetted to Portugal shortly.
Manager Ralf Rangnick revealed Ronaldo was missing with a hip flexor issue and played down any other theories. On Friday, he confirmed Ronaldo had returned to training on Thursday and would be available on Saturday.
“He resumes training yesterday, did the whole training session and he trained well like the rest of the group.
“I expect him to train today. I would've thought he was available tomorrow.”
Asked about Ronaldo's trip back to Portugal, while his teammates were losing to City, Rangnick said: “It doesn't make sense to look back on what happened the last six or seven days.
“What is important is what happens tomorrow. Not to go through all this. He and Edinson Cavani are both available for tomorrow.
“I haven't asked him if he's happy at Manchester at this club, he's fit again, resumed training yesterday and we shall see which formation we will line up with tomorrow."
Ronaldo was pictured leaving United's training ground on Friday wearing the club's kit, suggesting he would appear as a member of the matchday squad at The Lowry in the evening.
De Gea's positive meant those plans were scrapped though there is no suggestion Ronaldo's squad status will have changed.
